KANSAS CITY — After allowing four or more earned runs in three of his past four starts, Seth Lugo needed a bounceback outing, and he delivered it on Monday night.
Lugo spun his 18th quality start of the year with seven innings of two-run ball in the Royals’ 5-3 win over the Angels at Kauffman Stadium, giving Kansas City its fifth win in a row and a series-opening win as it kicks off a six-game homestand this week.
Lugo kept the Angels scoreless through six innings and allowed his only runs in the seventh when he walked Brandon Drury for the second time, which was followed by back-to-back hard doubles from the bottom of Los Angeles’ lineup. A quick mound visit from Brian Sweeney gave Lugo the rest he needed to get the final out of the frame and his outing — a first-pitch flyout to Taylor Ward.
Lugo has been one of the best pitchers in baseball this year and certainly one of the Royals’ best, with his 3.02 ERA and 166 2/3 innings across 26 starts. He’s been everything they’ve needed on the field and in the clubhouse — and as one of the best free-agent signings of the offseason.
